‘The bed is the main room’: Life in Paris’ micro flats

In a city where it is notoriously difficult to find a flat -- especially on a low budget and without the right paperwork -- many rooms that once served as domestic helpers' sleeping quarters have been turned into apartments for rent.

It is borderline illegal to rent out these micro-apartments, typically wedged under a rooftop, as they measure less than nine square metres (100 square feet) and often lack proper ventilation. But many people simply cannot afford any better, and some face other barriers